Dust retaining vent means



Nov. 29, 1966 J. TlBERl 3,287,886

DUST RETAINING VENT MEANS Filed May 28, 1965 OUTER SHELL SEAL RING CLAMP TOP OF BIN INVENTOR.

JOHN TIBERI CEMENT OR ANY TYPE BIN United States Patent 3,287,886 DUST RETAINING VENT MEANS John Tiberi, 3727 S. Maplewood Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed May 28, 1965, Ser. No. 459,867 1 Claim. (Cl. 55-378) This invention relates, generally, to improvements and innovations in vent means for bins, silos or similar storage means for powdery or dust-forming materials such as cement.

It is customary to store cement and other powdery dust-forming materials in large quantities in storage bins or silos. A conventional means and procedure for filling or delivering such powdery material as cement into silos and storage bins is to convey the same pneumatically by blowing it upwardly through a tube which discharges into the top of the bin or silo. Since large volumes of air are introduced into the bins or silos when they are being filled in this manner, it is preferable that they be vented in order to make the filling easier on the one hand and in order to prevent structural damage to the bins or silos as a result of excess internal pressures.

If the venting of such a storage bin or silo during pneumatic filling with a powdery material such as cement is accomplished simply by providing one or more vent openings or holes the-rein, some of the powdery material will escape through such openings or holes. This creates an unsatisfactory condition from several standpoints. Firstly, the discharge of the dusty material into the atmosphere creates a nuisance which is not only objectionable to workmen near at hand but to residents and places of business in nearby locations. Secondly, substantial quantities of valuable materials such as cement can be lost over periods of time. Thirdly, there is the problem of opening and closing vent openings and holes, which is usually not easy since they will normally be located in the roofs or top walls of such containers which may extend many feet up in the air. It is easy to forget to open the vents or openings in the first place and to close them after the filling operation is complete, thereby permitting rain, snow or water to enter into the openings and damage the contents.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is the provision of dust retaining vent means for silos and storage bins for cement and other dust-forming powdery materials which are inexpensive, easy to install in existing or new structures, require only a minimum of servicing or checking, keep out rain, snow and the weather the year around Without having to be closed or attended to, and which efliciently vent excess air or pressure from within such storage bins or silos without permitting the cement or other dusty material to escape.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference may now be had to the following detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view showing dust retaining vent means forming one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing the parts of the dust retaining vent means completely assembled in operating and normal relationship; and,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating a typical installation of the dust retaining vent means of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring first to FIG. 3 a typical cement storage bin or silo is indicated at 5 having mounted over an opening in the top wall 6 thereof a dust retaining vent means indicated generally at 7 and forming one embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that the bin or silo 5 may be of any size or shape. As mentioned above, such a bin or silo is usually filled by blowing or pneumatically conveying cement or other powdery material from the ground level up into the top of the bin or silo Where it is discharged to fall down within the bin or silo.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a section of the bin or sil-o roof 6 is indicated in broken line in FIG. 1 and an upstanding collar 10 is shown secured over an opening 11 in the roof or top wall. Usually, the collar 10 will be secured by Welding the same in place, although other means of securement could be used so long as the connection is a dust-tight relationship.

In order to prevent a dust filter bag 12 from falling down through the opening 11 into the interior of the bin or silo, grate means in the form of a plurality of parallel rods 13-13 are carried within the collar 10 so as to fit over and partially obstruct the opening 11 as shown. Desirably, the rods may be welded at their opposite ends to the interior of the collar 10.

Once the collar 10 has been installed in an upstanding or substantially vertical position with respect to the roof or top wall of a bin or silo, the remaining parts of the dust retaining vent 7 may be readily installed. First the bottom open end of the dust filter bag 11 is slipped over the collar 10 as indicated in FIG. 2. Then a rubber seal member 14 is put in place over the bottom end of the bag 12 and a band-shaped clamping member 15 is placed over the seal and then drawn up tightly so as to secure the bottom end of the bag in dust-tight relationship with the collar 10. Preferably the band 15 has a pair of laterally extending ear portions 16 and 17 with a nut and bolt fastener 18 passing through registering openings therein.

After the bottom end of the bag 12 has been clamped in place as described, a cylindrical chimney member 20 is slipped over the exterior of the band clamp 15. The chimney will have a notch 21 formed in the bottom end thereof so as to fit over the clamping cars 16 and 17. The chimney 20 is also provided with horizontally elongated slot openings 22-22 so as to provide ready insertion of bolts 23-23 provided with washers 24-24. The bolts 23 pass through the slot openings 22 and then through registering holes or apertures 25-25 in the band clamp 15. The inner ends of the bolts 23 project into recesses provided therefor in the rubber seal 14 and are provided with nuts 26-26. To facilitate assembly the nuts 26 are preferably welded on the interior of the clamping band 15 in registry with the holes 25 therein.

After the chimney has been put in place then the all weather top for the chimney which is indicated at 27 is put in place. This all-weather top 27 comprises a conical section 28 from which depends a vertical cylindrical skirt portion 30. Three or more L-shaped attaching brackets 31-31 are secured on the interior of the skirt portion 30 as shown. The horizontal inturned legs of these brackets 31 fit over the out-turned horizontal legs of cor-responding brackets 32-32 which are welded or otherwise suitably secured on the exterior of the chimney adjacent the top thereof. Screws with wing nuts may be used to pass through registering openings in the horizontal leg portions of the brackets 31 and 32.

It will be apparent that the all-weather top 27 provides adequate venting of the chimney 20 but does not permit rain, snow, hail or sleet to enter the chimney 20.

The dust retaining vent means 7 may be constructed of conventional materials suitable for this type of equipment. For example, the metal parts may be formed of steel which may be suitably galvanized or protectively coated so as to withstand weathering conditions over a period of years. If desired aluminum may be used for additional resistance to rust and weather. The dust filter bag 12 will be formed of a suitable fabric material of known type used for bags of this type. Desirably, the chimney 20 has a diameter which is somewhat larger than the distended diameter of the bag 12 while the vertical height of the chimney is somewhat in excess of the distended length of the bag 12.

It will be seen that the original cost of the dust retaining vent installations can be maintained at a low figure since the installation is readily accomplished and the component parts may be produced and assembled at low cost in quantities. It will be apparent that certain changes of a minor nature may be made in the construction described above in connection with the drawing Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

Dust retaining vent means for bins and silos used to store cement or other dust forming materials, comprising, an upstanding collar adapted to be mounted in dust-tight relationship over an opening in the roof or top wall of a storage bin or silo, grate means mounted in said collar in the form of a plurality of spaced rods having the ends thereof secured to the said collar so as to partially obstruct said opening, an elongated dust filter bag having its open end fitting over said collar, a clamping band surrounding said collar and clamping said open end of said dust bag in dust-tight relationship therewith, a rubber seal disposed between said clamping band and the openend of said bag, an imperforate chimney setting on said roof or top wall having its lower end fitting over and attached directly to said clamping band and thereby indirectly to said collar, said chimney having a diameter and an axial length exceeding the distended diameter and axial length respectively of said dust filter bag, and cover means mounted on the top of said chimney so as to prevent rain and snow from entering the same and comprising a conical section and a depending skirt portion, said skirt portion surrounding the upper end of said chimney in spaced relationship therewith, and said skirt portion being substantially smaller than the diameter of said conical section whereby the latter overhangs said skirt as a circular eave.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

B. NOZICK, Assistant Examiner. 

